U.S. Army NHRA Racing 63rd Annual NHRA U.S. Nationals Saturday Qualifying Report
U.S. Army driver Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher continues to shine at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. The eight-
time NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Top Fuel world champion made a run at his second consecutive Traxxas Nitro Shootout victory during day two of the 63rd annual U.S. Nationals, but came up just short in a thrilling final versus Steve Torrence.
Returning to Indy always seems to galvanize Schumacher and his nine-man U.S. Army Racing team. In reaching the final, the team showcased remarkable teamwork and versatility in key moments enabling Schumacher to delivered three impressive runs down the track behind the wheel of the U.S. Army Dragster for Don Schumacher Racing (DSR).
“What a remarkable performance by this U.S. Army team today,” said Schumacher. “That final was a great run, a great race. Just a good race and you know we were trying to figure out how to win it. Do you go in a little deeper? We talked about that. I could’ve rolled it in a little bit, which helps your light, but it hurts your elapsed time. I chose to go shallow. We made a great run. Steve (Torrence) just made a little better run. He did a great job and did what it took to win $100,000. We have a great U.S. Army car right now. We’ll keep working on it tomorrow, but I like where are at. If the forecast is right, it’s going to be hotter on Monday and we are hard to beat when it’s hot out.”
Despite his runner-up finish in the event, Schumacher was able to improve his position for Monday’s elimination rounds with his pass of 3.680 seconds at 330.31 mph in the final. With two rounds of qualifying remaining Sunday, “The Sarge” holds the fourth position on the elimination ladder.
Schumacher opened Saturday’s eight-car invitational with a holeshot victory over Brittany Force. His .063 second reaction time to Force’s .076 second light proved to the be difference as both drivers posted laps of 3.747 seconds. In the semifinal, “The Sarge” was quick on the tree with a .066 second light and he never trailed Terry McMillen to score the win with a pass of 3.727 seconds at 329.34 mph. With the victory over McMillen, Schumacher reached his third final in six career Traxxas Shootout events. He is only driver to win the event twice.
Brown was hoping to face Schumacher in the Traxxas Shootout semifinals, but the three-time and reigning Top Fuel world champion lost a cylinder early in his opening matchup with McMillen. Brown posted a lap of 3.808 seconds at 312.42 mph in the Matco Tools/Mello Yello/U.S. Army Dragster for DSR, but McMillen turned on the win light with his lap of 3.774 seconds at 318.69 mph in a matchup that also served as the drivers’ second qualifying session lap. Brown came back Saturday night in qualifying session three with a stout run of 3.694 seconds at 329.91 mph.
“That’s a great job for our whole Matco Tools/Mello Yello/U.S. Army/Toyota team bouncing back with that run tonight,” said Brown, following his third run of the weekend. “We let it slip away there a little bit during that first round (of the Traxxas Nitro Shootout). We dropped a hole, but that’s just the way our team comes back, right there. That was a quality run. Now we’re just getting ready for race day. We’re just going to keep pressing hard with two more runs tomorrow. This is the U.S. Nationals. This is where it all happens. This is a big stage. You just have to keep stepping up the form. There’s a lot of competition out here and you can see it with all these cars out here, so we’re going to keep pushing hard.”
Two more qualifying sessions are scheduled for Sunday and eliminations begin Monday at 11 a.m.
The FOX network and FS1 will televise weekend’s Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals action, starting with qualifying Sunday on FS1 at noon and 5 p.m. EDT. The broadcasts continue on FS1 with two hours of live coverage of eliminations Monday starting at 11 a.m. and concluding on FOX at 1 p.m.
